Transactional lawyer Bryan Loocke joined the Houston office of law firm Vinson & Elkins as a partner in the energy transactions practice, the firm said July 30.

Loocke handles M&A, sales, farm-outs, operating agreements, gathering and transportation agreements, rig procurement, engineering, procurement and construction, leasing, E&P and production payments. He focuses on unconventionals, joint ventures and the Gulf of Mexico.

He previously handled oil and gas financing matters at Bracewell & Giuliani LLP.

Recent matters include the representation of a large independent oil and gas company in connection with the multibillion-dollar M&A of a publicly held oil and gas company with Eagle Ford and Permian Basin properties; advising a private-equity fund about the purchase of Bakken Shale oil and gas assets; and counseling a privately held oil and gas company about the sale of Permian oil and gas assets.

Loocke has a bachelor’s degree from St. Edward's University and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

"As the number of private-equity firms and credit funds investing in the oil and gas space grows, opportunities to build my client base have also increased," Loocke said. "With its global reach and robust bench, V&E is the perfect place for me to take the next step in my career."